The genera of South African plants : arranged according to the natural system / by William Henry Harvey.

  • William H. Harvey
Date:
1868
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The genera of South African plants : arranged according to the natural system / by William Henry Harvey. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    (5# that of the PhspnogarnSj and to introduce descriptions of them would therefore swell this volume to inconvenient proportions. The Tuti’oduction to Botany has been taken from that at- tached to Des. Harvey and Sonder’s ‘ Flora Capensis,’ with a few veiy slight additions or modifications. The Keys to the Natural Orders I have constructed to the host of my ability, and so arranged them as to harmonize as much as possible with the sequence of the Orders adopted by Dr. Harvey in the body of thq work. Such being the case, ] would add that it does not throughout express my own views of the affinities of the Orders as expressed by the Jus- si euan system ; it does so, however, to a very great extent, and this foi- two reasons: firstly, because Dr. HARA''Ey pro- lessedly followed the ‘ Glenera Plantarum ’ of Mr. Bentham and myself, so far as that Avork had proceeded, and for the remaining Orders (after liuhiacecE) he, in the main, folloAved a manuscript Avith which I supplied him, giving a rough sketch of Mr. Bentuam’s and my OAvn ideas as to the sequence, etc., of the most important alliances or cohorts of Dicoty- ledons, and of the Orders they contain. I have thought it proper to reprint Avith this edition so much of Dr. Harvey’s Introduction to the First Edition as explains his motives for undertaking the Avork, and other matters connected. Avith the history of the Cape Botany that may prove interesting. 1 must refer the reader to his Pre- faces to the three volumes of the ‘ Flora Capensis ’ for such further information upon the latter subject as brings our knoAvledge doAvn to the period of his decease (18G6). The number of South African fiowering plants supposed to be contained in European Herbaria was, in 1838, estimated by Dr. Hara'ey at 7860, comprised in 037 genera; this was before the exploration of the Natal district. The number is estimated in the present edition at 8777 species, contained in .1209 genera.